Peter Kay 3 Arena April 2026

That's disappointing. I'm sure I saw a documentary a couple of years ago how Peter Kay tested out his material on small audiences first before bringing it to much larger ones.

On the other hand perhaps the material just didn't work as well here as the north of England.

Reviews of the tour are very mixed on TrustPilot (3.3 stars).

I don't think it's to do with English fans, He was singing theme tunes to ads and shows we all know, it's just that i can't believe that's considered presentable as a comedy act, standing there having people sing along jingles to 80s and 90s telly ads. Absolute muck.

And then the big finale (i wont spoilt it since he asked us not to) was also piss poor and just more of the same.

Sounds more like an act you'd see on a British cruise ship.

Worse - it was like being on a coach trip, all we were missing was the whip around for the driver

Ah christ he was dire. I was actually getting annoyed sitting there listening to everyone entertain the jingles and singing along with him. I thought it would go on for 10 mins, but it was nearly 45 mins. And then he kept on dipping in and out of it for the rest of the show. The big finale at the end seemed completely catered towards a UK crowd with all the union jacks and "celebrity" cameos and his extended bit about meeting royalty (Who the **** wants to know about that in Ireland?)

Twice the price of most comedy shows and it was absolute shite.

Was a massive fan of him throughout his career, loved his stand up, phoenix nights/ car share etc.

Went to the show a couple of years back in the 3 arena and he was absolutely awful, sounds like nothing new has come.

I wouldnt go to see him live again.

If you grew up in the 70s and 80s with the BBC and UTV then yes you’d get the “jokes” - but these are old jokes- like nearly decades old now- and of course if you’re not in your late 40s onwards, and to boot, just had RTÉ to keep you entertained, you just wouldn’t have got the jokes in the first place.
His reviews since his “comeback” range from pretty mediocre if you’re being kind to the sort of experience you had OP.

His one trick pony has sort of had its day many moons ago. I did think he was funny once upon a time- but it sort of wore off on me then. Whereas Billy Connolly, until he had his illness, remained so fresh on stage for decades.

You can’t rehash shows in a social media age- it just doesn’t work - and especially not where the same fans attend- they are entitled to new and indeed, funny material

This thread has just popped up on home page, so I said I'd reply.

I was first handed Peters DVD "Peter Kay: Live at the Bolton Albert Halls" back in 2003, by a Mancunian work mate and I instantly fell in love with his comedy. Over the years - he's written some incredible TV shows (Phoenix Nights, Max and Paddy, Car Share), done spoof of Xfactor (Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice), had hit singles, and put on some GREAT, GREAT shows (his early DVDs).

But this recent "reincarnation" of his comedy - is - TERRIBLE.

His material was "of it's time" and what ye seem to have been subjected to, is a stale, lazy, watered down version of what used to make him great. He's clearly had personal/family issues over the past 10 years - and it's affected his material, his performances and his approach to his work. His whole persona is… gone.

In the way a former premier league footballer or champion boxer (Think Rooney or Prince Naseem) would just look ridiculous if they stepped back onto/into a pitch/the ring today - the same is true of Peter Kay. Except, instead of piling on the weight after retirement (like the above two), Peter has lost his very own "14 stone in a day"…

And with it, he lost a lot of what made him funny…

He was young. Sure, he was overweight… but he was FULL of life, confidence and CHRIST, he was funny.

I once bumped into him oustide a B&Q in Limerick (he has a holiday home in nearby Kilaloe). This was when he was off he grid. No one recognised him. I badly wanted to go up to him and just say hello… but I thought… what if he's not "that guy" from the DVDs?

So I let him be.

Maybe he should've done the same.

Very strange- on the plus side, the audience only had to endure 40 mins of his act.

“Comedian Peter Kay was rushed off stage mid-performance and the audience at his Birmingham show was evacuated after a suspicious bag was found.

A 19-year-old man is being held and the area was searched as a precaution on Friday night.”

https://news.sky.com/story/peter-kay-show-in-birmingham-halted-after-suspicious-bag-forces-evacuation-13539033

I think something happened him all those years ago when he cancelled all the shows and withdrew from public life until a few years ago- something that impacted his ability to be instantly funny and creative.
He’s doing a painting by numbers approach to his shows given the reviews and the comments here. Something isn’t “right” with him